Nationalism: Its Meaning and History — Hans Kohn, revised edition published 1965.

This book traces the historical development of nationalism from ancient civilizations to the modern era, arguing that nationalism became one of history’s most powerful political forces by reshaping ideas of identity, liberty, state power, revolution, culture, and mass political loyalty.

1. Nationalism Became a New Form of Supreme Political Loyalty

2. Nationalism Grew Out of Earlier Religious and Cultural Traditions

3. English Nationalism Linked National Identity With Liberty

4. American Nationalism Was Built Around Civic Ideals Rather Than Ethnicity

5. The French Revolution Turned Nationalism Into a Mass Political Force

6. Nationalism Can Inspire Both Freedom and Oppression

7. Nationalism Reshaped Culture, Education, and Public Life

8. Modern Social Change Helped Nationalism Spread Across the World

⭐ Star Facts

• Hans Kohn defines nationalism as a “state of mind” in which a person’s highest loyalty is given to the nation-state. ⭐
• Kohn argues nationalism is a modern phenomenon that only became dominant near the end of the eighteenth century.
• The book traces important roots of nationalism to the ancient Hebrews and Greeks, especially ideas of collective identity, cultural mission, and political loyalty.
• Kohn presents England as the first modern nationalist society because it connected national identity with constitutional liberty and representative government.
• The book describes the American Revolution as a civic nationalism built around liberty and constitutional principles rather than ethnicity or religion.
• Kohn argues the French Revolution transformed nationalism into a mass political force driven by patriotism, unity, and popular sovereignty.
• The book warns that nationalism can both inspire liberty and enable authoritarianism, mass conformity, and political violence.
• Kohn explains that modern schools, national education systems, patriotic festivals, and shared languages were used to build national identity and loyalty.

🧠 Conclusion